books

Nora Ephron, a writer for all seasons, dead at 71

June 27, 2012

0626-nora-ephron-dies-screenwriter-new-york_full_600.jpg

A few thoughts on the death, last week, of screenwriter, journalist, essayist, film director, and playwright Nora Ephron at age 71. Nora Ephron defied the conventional wisdom that you can only do one thing well in life.

Born into a...

Read More

Long Live Carla Bruni and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani

September 1, 2010

carla-bruni.jpg

Disturbing news out of Iran this week as the regime-backed newspaper daily Kayhan says Carla Bruni, first lady of France, deserves to die for her views.

Taking a stand for the rights of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two who...

Read More

Book Showcases Rescued Dogs Who Rescue Others

May 11, 2010

Pretty cute, huh?

  camping-with-dogs.jpg

A new book called New Lives: Stories of Rescued Dogs Helping, Healing and Giving Hope tells the stories of abused dogs who were rescued and went on to become “working” dogs–helping the elderly, disabled, and...

Read More

The Legendary J.D. Salinger, Dead at 91, Did it His Way

January 28, 2010

salinger.jpg

Last week the author J.D. Salinger died at age 91. I hesitate to eulogize him for fear, as Salinger once told Elia Kazan when the latter asked for permission to produce a play version of Salinger’s masterpiece “The Catcher in the Rye,” that...

Read More